We have a panel discussion for you today about spirituality on the trail. Who better than these three ladies to talk with on this fascinating subject?

Anne Gardner

Writer. Minister. Adventurer. After spending twenty-five years working at two of Boston's premier educational institutions, Harvard University and Phillips Academy, Andover, the author currently leads the chaplaincy program at Harvard-Westlake, a private secondary school in Los Angeles.

An Episcopal minister by day, Reverend Gardner also finds time to work as a freelance writer. Her essays and columns have been featured in The National Catholic Reporter, The Boston Globe, The Providence Journal, New England Tennis Magazine, and most recently as part of WBUR's Cognoscenti series, Boston's NPR affiliate.

Her debut book, And So I Walked, recounts her journey of traversing the 500-mile Camino de Santiago de Compostela. Using the famed pilgrimage path as a backdrop, Gardner's memoir weaves together her personal narrative with the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges presented by the Camino. Inspirational, and at times heart-wrenching, And So I Walked explores how faith, family, and friendship both change us and sustain us.

A native of Massachusetts, the author now lives in California with her wife Beth.

Audrey Scanlan

Audrey serves as the Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Central Pennsylvania - an elected position that gives her oversight of 60 churches and 11,000 folks who belong to the Episcopal Church in the region. Conveniently, the AT runs right through the middle of the area that she oversees! She lives just 4 miles from a trailhead in the middle of the Cumberland Valley (PA) which is one of the most gentle (read: flat) sections of the entire AT! Audrey tries to get out on the trail at least once during the week and walk and run around the cornfields in our neighborhood on most mornings.

Audrey was ordained in her mid-40s after two other careers- one as a restaurant chef, and another working in the guidance department of my town's elementary school. She grew up and lived in Northwestern CT until moving to PA almost 6 years ago. She will be 63 in September. She loves to cook, still, and is happiest in the kitchen, or out on the trail.

Audrey and her husband Glenn have three children and two toddler grandsons who they are going "love up" as soon as Covid is over! And, like lots of folks, someday... she wants to thru-hike the AT. :) :)

Lisa Work

Lisa has been in education for over 30 years, serving in private schools and public schools in the roles of teacher, administrator, and consultant. In October 2020, she was named a Postulant for Holy Orders to the Priesthood in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania.

Lisa has always loved doing things in nature. Growing up, her family spent vacations car camping. That tradition continued as her daughters were born and grew up and as a single mom, she continued vacations car-camping and day hiking local trails.

Lisa will be celebrating her 18th year as a breast cancer survivor this year. She became more serious about backpacking when she decided to participate in "Seek-the-Peak" in the White Mountains as a way to celebrate being a cancer survivor in 2012.

Lisa and her husband Mark, and their dog Emmie live in York, PA. They have 4 adult children who live relatively nearby and this year, they became grandparents.

Lisa dreams of hiking the Camino De Santigo (Camino Francés route) and thru-hiking the AT.

Guest Links- And So I Walked via Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/So-Walked-Reflections-Chance-Santiago/dp/1956635947/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3Q0YQB845NYHX&keywords=and+so+I+walked&qid=1649883021&sprefix=and+so+i+walked%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-1

Anne's website - https://www.anne-gardner.com

Audrey's blogs- www.diocesecpa.org/blog

https://ourselvesoursoulsandbodies.com/2021/05/01/alone-my-soul-in-silence-waits/

Lisa on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/lisa.amspacher.work

Connect with Anna, aka Mud Butt, at [email protected]

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Music provided for this Podcast by The Burns Sisters "Dance Upon This Earth" https://www.theburnssisters.com